North Korea says it has released detained Canadian pastor

Hyeon Soo-lim was sentenced in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy North Korea and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens. Photo: Reuters

Seoul: North Korea said it released a Canadian pastor, who has been serving a life sentence since 2015 for “anti-state activities”, over health reasons.

Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said on Wednesday that Hyeon Soo-lim was released on “sick bail” following a decision by the country’s central court. The agency didn’t provide further details.

Lim was convicted and sentenced in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.

Lim’s release comes two months after the death of a US college student shortly after he was released from North Korea in a coma.